Tech Explained | F1 Aerodynamic Cooling

Formula 1 Airbox

Over the past few years, there has been a tendency for the size of the airbox above the driver’s head to become larger. The pioneering team here was Mercedes back in 2015, with many teams now converging on an ‘A-shaped’ inlet. In fact, the only team to have retained a conventional airbox is McLaren. There are good reasons for both approaches and they centre around external Aerodynamics, as well as basic physics.

The majority of teams have opted for the ‘A-shaped’ inlet, apart from McLaren (bottom right) and Sauber (bottom left)

It is thought that the central of the three inlets, seen on the Toro Rosso below, feeds the combustion engine, and is roughly the same size as that of a standard airbox. In addition, the two outlets either side of this most likely provide flow to coolers for the other element of the power unit, the Energy Recovery System. The coolers themselves are also mounted higher up, enabling teams to reduce the sidepods’ size. The result of this is improved airflow for the floor and diffuser to produce more downforce.

The location of the coolers within the sidepods varies between the teams as shown here on the Force India (top left), Toro Rosso (top right), Mercedes (bottom left) and the McLaren (bottom right)

However, moving internal components to one of the highest positions of the car will of course, raise the centre of gravity, decreasing cornering stability. There is also the question of the efficiency of the airbox intake this season with the addition of the Halo. Unattended to, much of the flow previously destined for the airbox would have been diverted above it, something which has been overcome, to a degree, by the permitted fairings on the safety device.

The Halo has had a huge effect on the airflow going into the airbox which is why teams have added several fairings on to the top of their Halo

Contributor to Racecar Engineering. Iman is currently studying Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London, with a keen interest in pursuing a career in motorsport, particularly in Formula 1 Aerodynamics. Keep up to date with Iman on Twitter @ImanHansra

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